CHITRAL: The people of Arandu village situated on Pak Afghan border area ,
facing acute shortage of communication and other civic facilities have celebrated the ground breaking ceremony of a road that would provide them link with Chitral and other parts of the country.
During a simple but impressive function at historical fort of Domel for the ground breaking ceremony was a historical day for the inhabitants of entire valley. They walked across difficult terrain and many miles to reach the function site at Domel.
The road is to be built with the funding of the Federal Republic of Germany through Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integrated Program (PATRIP) foundation. The 13.5 km
long road would be built in a short period of 18 month only and would cost about Rs 109 million which is definitely most cheap.
This road will connect 35 villages of the valley. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 17 Division Major General Javed Mahmood Bokhari was chief guest of the function. GOC Javed Bukhari unveiled plague of the board and inaugurated ground breaking ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion General Javed Mahmood Bokhari highly hailed contribution of SRSP in developmental sectors and paid rich tributes to the staff of SRSP for working in difficult and harsh environment across FATA and different districts of Khyber Pahtoonkhwa. He said that the organization had won credibility with international and national agencies for responding to people’s needs and delivering with integrity and efficiency. MNA Chitral and DC Chitral also attended the ceremony and appreciated the work of SRSP in Chitral.
Haji Rozi Khan, a senior citizen of the valley, speaking on behalf of its inhabitants said that living conditions in the valley were miserable in the absence of the road and because
of absence of infrastructure the health and educational facilities are non-existent.
The road would connect the valley to the main Chitral Arandu road now being built by the
Army in collaboration with UAE government funding. The Arandu Tehsil headquarters is
connected to the provinces of Kunar and Nuristanin of Afghanistan by a bridge. This route
was used by the Chitralis to travel to Peshawar in the days before Lowari tunnel was
constructed.
Many Afghans in peaceful days still use health and educational facilities in Chitral and Drosh travelling across the region. Haji Rozi Khan said that ,the road will not only improve living standards and security in the area, but also in the long run when peace returns to the region become a focal point for regional trade and communication.
The project manager of PATRIP, Khadimullah briefed the participants about the road and highlighted the technical features of the project and said that the road will be built as
per international standards and no compromise will be made on its quality and timely completion.
Besides commandant Chitral Scouts Col Naeem Iqbal, Lt Col Naveed, Qari Jamal Abul Nasir, DC Ameenul Haq, MNA Iftikharuddin, Muhammad Tariq district program
Manager of SRSP, Sher Hakim and a large number of people of the area attended the function.

INP